Hope Rides Alone (Email from a soldier in Iraq)

new media journal ^ | 2-21-07

[dynachrome]

Subject: FW: [ Hope Rides Alone ...

Hello Everyone, I wanted to share an article my son Eddie sent me from Iraq. I was not going to send it out

through the usual means; I'm looking to have this published somehow. I just felt after

reading it again this morning that I wanted people to begin reading it and begin/continue to

pray for our brave men and women in uniform. I'm not sure how many letters or articles

you've ever read from the genre of "News from the Front," but this is one of the best I've

ever read, including all of America's wars. As I was reading this, I forgot that it was my son

who had written it. My emotions range from great pride to great sorrow, knowing that my

little boy (22 years old) has become this man. He is my hero. Thank all of you for your prayers for him; he needs them now more than ever. God bless, David

Hope Rides Alone By Eddie

I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to the ground. I smell

the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that

watch me pass down the streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands

are steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the purpose of

taking the lives of others.

I sweat, and I am tired. My back aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to

me to direct them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families again...and

yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more than that of the ones I lead. I am

stressed, I am scared, and I am paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it

calls to me from around street corners and windows, and it is always there.

There are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions tha t are not

my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made compromises with my humanity. And

I am not alone in this. Miles from me are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same

streets...who feel the same things, whether they admit to it or not. And to think, I

volunteered for this... And I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or so I thought.

But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams and complaints of

the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust back into society from a life and mentality

that doesn't fit your average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the

streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of the same people who

compare our President to Hitler.

I will watch the television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the rest

of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a subject they kn ow nothing

about. It is their right, however, and it is a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands

of boys and girls scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and girls,

because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the infantryman is nineteen

years old. The average rank of soldiers killed in action is Private First Class.

People like Cindy Sheehan are ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic

ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects on this war. In this war,

there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from

the enemy's brutality because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a military

Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy. The enemy slinks in the shadows and

fights a coward's war against us. It is effective though, as many men and women have died

since the start of this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the

inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the enemy

changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy is transitioning from

the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is becoming the very people whom we

defend with our lives. And they do not realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing

our leaders, denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military from

society...and they are becoming our enemy.

Democrats and peace activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this

war to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam. Not the actual war,

but in the isolation of country and military. America is not a nation at war; they are a nation

with its military at war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third times;

some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned now with politics, that it

is interfering with our war.

Terrorists cut the heads off of American citizens on the internet...and there is no outrage,

but an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle, and there are investigations, and

sometimes soldiers are even jailed...for doing their job.

It is absolutely sickening to me to think our country has come to this. Why are we so

obsessed with the bad news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no

matter how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When is the last

time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and hospitals in Iraq? Or the

leaders of terror cells being detained or killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up

their hatred of Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might show people that

Bush was right .

America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what is right and just in the

world. The crazy thing of it all is that the American people have not even been asked to

sacrifice a single thing. It's not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned

in cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been asked to

sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the family member of a servicemember,

its life as usual...the war doesn't affect you.

But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops come home, and they try to piece

together what's left of them after their service...where will the detractors be then? Where will

the Cindy Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the last couple

years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging death and wading through the

deaths of their friends? They will be where they always are, somewh ere far away, where the

horrors of the world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things

they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men and women of America

have willingly taken upon their shoulders.

We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants in life: safety,

security, somewhere to call home. They want a country that is safe to raise their children in.

Not a place where their children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply

with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild and prosper. And America has

given them the opportunity, but only if we stay true to the cause, and see it to its end. But

the country must unite in this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone.

We must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting us is more than

sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars.&nb sp; It's supporting our President, our

troops and our cause.

Right now, the burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone. But it

can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and darkness ahead for us as a

country, as a people, if it doesn't. Let's stop all the political nonsense, let's stop all the

bickering, let's stop all the bad news, and let's stand and fight! Isn't that what America is

about anyway?

[paulat]

Please take a look at #18, #19 and #20.

Thanks!

[Admin Moderator]

Look again.

[paulat]

I rest my case with #21...whoever the Admin Mod was changed it when I challenged the source.

[Redleg Duke]

Wow. They should duct tape the Socialists and the anti-American protesters to chairs and make them listen to this, over and over and over.

Thank God this country still produces men and women like this!

[Redleg Duke]

Yes. Just like your integrity...nothing...nada!

[paulat]

Check #22...they knew what I was talking about.

[Andonius_99]

BTTT!

[Freee-dame]

God bless our military men and women.

[Victor K]

Yes indeed. God bless this young man and the many young women and men that are in his boots doing the very tough work of fighting the cowardly enemy, while the cowardly, mostly leftist, socialist calling themselves "democrat leaders" (oxymoron) in this country, stick it to them.
As a U.S. Army vet (volunteer) 1973-76, I can relate to him and his feelings. My family were the only one who supported me and so many of my generation serving our country with people whose hearts had grown cold. The ungrateful ones who show no concern and actually have the gall to criticize them deserve a permanent home in the lowest level of "Dante’s Inferno".
In spite of all that, our service people can hold their heads high, because they've done what is right and done the incredibly tough work and are protecting our nation. Vets and their families are by in large the ones who can appreciate them and say with our Father, "Well done, good and faithful servants."

[kstewskis]

Amazing letter.

Wow, I'll say. God bless him.

I just got an email from a sailor (Catholic) who was in port in Bahrain. His ship was leaving on Monday for the Gulf. He said he is pretty concerned at what is going on out there, but at the same time, he is taking care of business. Prayers for him (and the others who are over there) are appreciated.

Thank goodness for those who sacrifice themselves, so we at home can enjoy the comforts of security. There can never be enough "thank you's" to go around for them.

[SouthTexas]

A good read!

[don-o]

bump

[Redleg Duke]

I checked all of the posts...several times. The fact remains, you acted like a real jerk and aren't man or woman enough to admit your error.

Now, bug off.

[dynachrome]

"Where is the link for this supposed email?"

Thanks admin moderator, for the link. I should have searched for it meself. To paulat: lighten up. I think we are on the same side here.

[dynachrome]

"Done. Next time use the abuse button to get our attention. You'll get faster results"
Sure thing. Thanks again!